Fear: Can it take away your choices...?

[waitasec]

My whole point is that emotions DO NOT remove choices. So there's no point in trying to explain how happiness DOES. BTW, I consider happiness to be an emotion, in case that wasn't clear.

my point is that fear falls into a tricky place in our psyche because it is also used as a part of our defense mechanism. so i would say that yes fear can remove choices.

 

[tomato1236]

my point is that fear falls into a tricky place in our psyche because it is also used as a part of our defense mechanism. so i would say that yes fear can remove choices.

Ok. Well I hope you don't get scared much. Not having choices is a drag.

 

[waitasec]

Ok. Well I hope you don't get scared much. Not having choices is a drag.

and halloween is coming up

 

[tomato1236]

and halloween is coming up

How do people get ANYTHING DONE?!

 

[MW0082]

my point is that fear falls into a tricky place in our psyche because it is also used as a part of our defense mechanism. so i would say that yes fear can remove choices.

Agreed, if you're so scared of the consequences you do nt have the option. it's rather simple when you think about it.

I bet we can all think of something that we will not do out of fear? fear has taken that option a way....

 

[EverChanging]

Oh no! Fear took my choices away! As if fear was some independent entity with power of some kind.

You assume that you are an independent entity with power of some kind. Your behavior comes from a brain, a vastly complicated interconnection of neurons obeying physical, chemical, and electrical laws of physics. Processes are going on in parallel in different parts of your brain at all times. There is no "self" in that brain. No place where "you" make decisions or where things come "into" consciousness. There is no central headquarters, no ghost in the machine.

Do you really think that there is some self in the brain that is able to control the electrical impulses? Able to change your brain chemistry to make a choice or control your emotions?

There is no ghost in the brain that is in charge. We are machines.

 

[tomato1236]

You assume that you are an independent entity with power of some kind. Your behavior comes from a brain, a vastly complicated interconnection of neurons obeying physical, chemical, and electrical laws of physics. Processes are going on in parallel in different parts of your brain at all times. There is no "self" in that brain. No place where "you" make decisions or where things come "into" consciousness. There is no central headquarters, no ghost in the machine.

Do you really think that there is some self in the brain that is able to control the electrical impulses? Able to change your brain chemistry to make a choice or control your emotions?

There is no ghost in the brain that is in charge. We are machines.

I don't know about you, or ghosts, or chemistry, but I am able to control my emotions, thankfully.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Emotions only have the control we give them. We can release all emotions and thoughts if we choose to.

As human beings we are controlled by our emotions and by our thoughts. In order to "release all emotions and thoughts" we'd have to be permanently asleep, comatose.

 

[EverChanging]

I don't know about you, or ghosts, or chemistry, but I am able to control my emotions, thankfully.

Really. How exactly do you take control over the biochemical processes and electrical impulses in your brain to control what your emotions are?

 

[tomato1236]

Really. How exactly do you take control over the biochemical processes and electrical impulses in your brain to control what your emotions are?

Haha I guess I'm just superhuman. I thought everybody could actively influence how they feel. Maybe I'm from outer space and my parents just haven't told me yet.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Really. How exactly do you take control over the biochemical processes and electrical impulses in your brain to control what your emotions are?

Temperance. It's one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.

Another way of expressing that is strength of character.

 

[tomato1236]

Temperance. It's one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.

Another way of expressing that is strength of character.

Just because science hasn't figured out how this works, doesn't mean it doesn't.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Just because science hasn't figured out how this works, doesn't mean it doesn't.

I tend to agree with tomato1236.

 

[tomato1236]

I tend to agree with tomato1236.

My feelings about this are similar to those I posted on the thread about free will. People who argue that they are helpless to the whims of biology do so to dismiss personal responsibility. No point in trying if it's hopeless, right?

 

[Midnight Pete]

My feelings about this are similar to those I posted on the thread about free will. People who argue that they are helpless to the whims of biology do so to dismiss personal responsibility. No point in trying if it's hopeless, right?

But we are not helpless to the whims of biology ... are we?

 

[tomato1236]

But we are not helpless to the whims of biology ... are we?

Anyone who has ever gotten angry, calmed down and expressed their concern tacfully should have all the evidence they need. Anyone who has resisted the urge to make babies with the hot girl they're with, or chose to try again despite their discouragement. How is any of that even possible or worthwhile if we're just machines? Machines programmed to be polite?

 

[Walkntune]

Really. How exactly do you take control over the biochemical processes and electrical impulses in your brain to control what your emotions are?

Because science is wrong and emotions are not caused by biochemical processes but are held and released in consciousness as one chooses.The biochemical processes and electrical impulses our how the body communicates with that which we hold in consciousness and not the cause.
You can hold on to and release thoughts and feelings out of your consciousness as you choose.

 

[thedope]

We always choose with a guide. Fear is a liar saying, "follow me I will keep you safe", but it's real intent is to keep you from going where you will and to wound your heart.

 

[jarofthoughts]

Because science is wrong and emotions are not caused by biochemical processes but are held and released in consciousness as one chooses.The biochemical processes and electrical impulses our how the body communicates with that which we hold in consciousness and not the cause.
You can hold on to and release thoughts and feelings out of your consciousness as you choose.

Really?

So, your peer-reviewed source for this astounding knowledge is...?

Oh, that's right. Science is wrong... Except, it is only wrong when it contradicts your personal delusions. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, now would you?

 

[Walkntune]

Really?

So, your peer-reviewed source for this astounding knowledge is...?

Oh, that's right. Science is wrong... Except, it is only wrong when it contradicts your personal delusions. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, now would you?

I just had a strong hunch!

Here I googled this but this is my opinion of peer reviewed also.

It's been peer reviewed, so it must be right, right? Wrong! Not everything in the peer-reviewed literature is correct. Indeed, some of it is downright bad science. Professional scientists usually know how to rate papers within their own fields of expertise (all too often very narrow ones nowadays). We realize that some journals are more stringent than others in what they will accept, and that peer-review standards can unfortunately be too flexible. A lust for profit has arguably led to the appearance of too many journals, and so it can be all too easy to find somewhere that will publish poor-quality work.

In the physcological field they do not test subjects period for any chemical imbalances and hand out drugs like candy.
It is very bad science.